Information Acquisition

Abstract

A method of acquiring network information from a network is disclosed. The network comprises an end terminal and a target terminal and installed on the end terminal is (a) a plurality of applications; and (b) mediation means arranged in operation to mediate between the plurality of applications and the target terminal. The method comprises: (i) receiving at the mediation means a query from one of the plurality of applications, the query requesting network information from a target terminal; (ii) operating the mediation means to: check if there is an existing connection to the target terminal; in the absence of an existing connection, establish a new connection between the mediation means and the target terminal; and acquire the requested network information over the new connection.

1 . A method of acquiring network information from a network, said network comprising an end terminal and a target terminal, said end terminal having installed thereon (a) a plurality of applications; and (b) mediation means arranged in operation to mediate between said plurality of applications and said target terminal, said method comprising:
 (i) receiving at said mediation means a query from one of said plurality of applications, said query requesting network information from a target terminal;   (ii) operating said mediation means to: check if there is an existing connection to said target terminal; in the absence of an existing connection, establish a new connection between said mediation means and said target terminal; and acquire said requested network information over said new connection.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising operating said mediation means, in the presence of an existing connection to said target terminal, to use said existing connection to said target terminal to acquire said requested network information. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said mediation means comprises an information store, wherein said store stores network information previously acquired from said target terminal, said method further comprising operating said mediation means to: check if said requested network information is contained in said information store; in the absence of said requested network information in said information store, establish a new connection between said mediation means and said target terminal; and acquire said requested network information over said new connection. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising operating said mediation means in the presence of said requested network information in said information store, to acquire said requested network information from said information store. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising sending said requested network information to said application and using said requested network information to adapt the operation of said application. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said network information comprises real-time network information. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said mediation means further comprises translation means and said method further comprises:
 translating said query into a format understood by said target terminal;   sending said query to said target terminal;   receiving a response to said query, said response comprising said requested network information; and   translating said response into a format understood by said mediation means.   
     
     
         8 . Apparatus for acquiring network information from a network, said network comprising an end terminal and target terminals, said apparatus comprising mediation means arranged in operation to mediate between applications installed in said end terminal and said target terminals, said mediation means comprising: receiving means arranged in operation to receive a query from an application, said query requesting network information from a target terminal checking means arranged in operation to check if there is an existing connection to said target terminal; connection establishment means arranged in operation to establish a new connection to said target terminal in the absence of an existing connection; information acquisition means arranged in operation to acquire said requested network information over said new connection. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein said mediation means further comprises an information store storing network information previously acquired from said target terminal; wherein said checking means is further arranged in operation to check if said requested network information is contained in said information store; and said connection establishment means is further arranged in operation to establish a new connection to said target terminal in the absence of said network information in said information store. 
     
     
         10 . A digital data carrier carrying a program of instructions executable by processing apparatus to perform the method steps as set out in  claim 1 .